A satellite mission led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency with international collaborators, sometimes known in Japan as Midori meaning green, dedicated to environmental research, observation of geophysical parameters, observation of atmospheric processes, as well as ocean colour and sea-surface temperature. ADEOS was launched on 17 August 1996, from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. It ceased to function on 30 June 1997, apparently due to structural damage to its solar array. ADEOS-2 was launched on 14 December 2002 but suffered a catastrophic power failure on 24 October 2003.

http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/adeos2/index_e.html A joint CNES, JAXA, NASA, and NASDA mission to study the Earth’s environment.